Grab your goals with these 6 steps

Focus. Motivation. Direction. Those are the result of setting goals and pushing yourself forward. Growth is the name of the game!

Whether you have personal, professional, lifestyle or financial aspirations, setting goals is a powerful tool for getting there. Goal-setting is a way to both plan for your future and actively shape it.

Here are the six best steps to take to set goals and reach them to realise your true potential.

What are your values and aspirations?

Do your goals align with who you want to be? Be clear on what your values and aspirations are. Make sure that you understand what really matters to you and take time to visualise what you want your life to look like. Keep this in mind when you set your goals so that your they align with the bigger picture of what you want in your life.

Set realistic, measurable goals

Once you're clear on the bigger picture, it's time to set your goals. When it comes to setting goals, make sure they are specific and measurable. This will allow you to track your progress and celebrate milestones. For example, setting the goal: "I want to get fit" is vague. Rather say "I want to run a 5km race in under 30 minutes by the end of the year". This is a clear, actionable goal which is measurable and time bound. Importantly, make sure that whatever goals you set are achievable. If your goals are unrealistic, you are more likely to become demotivated and not achieve them.

Break big goals into smaller parts and bring on the action plan!

Take your goal and break it up into small, manageable tasks. This approach makes achieving the goal feel attainable. Then make sure you create an action plan with specific tasks or smaller goals, as well as the resources, skills and support you will need to accomplish your goals.

What motivates you?

A large part of achieving your goals relates to understanding what motivates you. When you are working towards a goal, you will have to keep motivating yourself to go further. To achieve growth, you need to be rewarded for your behaviour instead of the outcome. When you develop your action plan, you can create incentives to help give yourself the motivation you need to achieve your goal.

Are you motivated by an indulgent breakfast or a weekend getaway? Use this in your personal reward system.

Or, if your goal is a holiday, you can reward yourself by booking airplane tickets once you have saved a certain amount. Next you can book the accommodation, then your car hire, then sight-seeing tours or activities. This will also build excitement ahead of going on your trip.

Get support and stay accountable

Having a support system when working towards your goals provides external support and motivation and helps to hold you accountable to your goals. Once you've decided on your goals, share them with friends, relatives, mentors or other people working towards similar goals. Social media can be a good way of staying accountable, if you share your progress with a large community of people.

Using technology is also a great way to keep track of your progress towards goals and hold yourself accountable. There are many apps available to track savings, fitness and more. Some apps will provide nudges and motivation to keep working towards your goals. Certain apps may even offer points or rewards when you achieve milestones. Or, you can join a programme - such as a fitness class - to help you achieve your goals and keep you accountable.

Review and evaluate your goals

Regularly review and evaluate your goals and the progress you've made towards achieving them. Maybe you've set your goals too high or too low. Assessing your progress will help you to see what you have achieved, identify areas for improvements, and make changes to your plan where necessary. This is an essential part of staying on track in achieving your goals.

You've got this!

Setting goals is important for personal growth and development. To reach your full potential, and lead a successful and fulfilling life, start setting and working towards those goals!